Ladder



Jan. 10, 1928.

J. L. WALKER LADDER Filed Nov. 20, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 anew e u o.

J. L. WALKER Jain. 10, 1928.

LADDER Filed Nov. 20. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 10, 1928.

V V I I 1,655,526. UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicap JOSEPH L. WALKER, or Baron Bones; LOUISIANA.

' LADDER;

Application filed nov em'bei 203925. Serial m. 70,267. j

l This invention relates to a ladder of the ,ertensible type, one. of theobjectsbeing to provide a structure of this character the parts of which are connected together at all times but can be readily shifted relative to each other so that the ladder can be used as ail-ordinary straight ladder or as a stepi ladder.

A further object is to provide means on the ladder sections which cooperate to automatically. lock the sect-ions against relative movement after they have been brought into line. Another object is to provide a ladder which is durable and compact in construction and which can be folded or extended.

VVith the. foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention residesin the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the ladder extended. 7 I

Figure 2 is'an enlarged transverse section through the ladder when completely collapsed or folded.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the meeting portions of two sec tious of the ladder showing how they interlock when the ladder is in extended position, the position of one ofthe sections prior to the interlocking action. being indicated by broken lines.

Figure 41 is a section on line 414= Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the ladder set up for use as a step ladder.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates the bottom section of the ladder provided with side strips 2 the lower portions of which can diverge downwardly as sh own. These strips are connected by rungs 3 which. are preferably angular in cross section so that. when the ladder is set up for use, flat top faces 4 will be presented to the feet of the user. Secured along the outer sides of the strips 2 are combined reinforcing strips and hand rails 5 'which serve to cover the ends of the strips and to vex from front .to backand are provided with wear strips the endsiof which are bent downwardly as indicated at 7 and secured fstiif enthe side strips againstllateral strains The upper ends of the side strips 2 are conto the front and back faces respectively of the side strips. These strips 6not only constitute wear devices butalso serve to hold the top step 3 securely totheside strips.

Studs 8 are secured to the side strips 2 near the upper ends thereof at points between the'two upper steps 3 and project into, slots 9; extending longitudinally within the lower end portions of the side strips 10 of the second section 11, of. the ladder.

This second or intermediate section has the lower ends of itsside rails 10 convex from front to back as shown'at 12 and eccentrically disposed so as to constitute lifting earns. A wear strip 13 extends along the lower end of each ofthese side strips 10 and has its end portions extended upwardly as shown at side strips 20 connected by rungs or steps.

21 similar to those heretofore described and l fand securedto the front and back faces has the lower ends. of its side rails camshaped. as shown at .22 in Figure 5, this shape corresponding with the shape of the lower ends of the side rails or strips of the middle section 11. Slots 23 are also provided in the side strips or rails of the top section 19 and receive studs 24 extending from the side strips 10. This construction is similar to that illustrated in Figure 3. Reinforcing strips orhand rails 25 are secured to the side strips 20.. i

When it is desired toset up this ladder for use as a, straight ladder the section 11 is swung upwardly relative to the bottom section 1 and the cam-shaped lower ends thereof will ride upon the adjacent step 3 of the section 1 as shown by broken lines in Figure 3. This action will continue until the middle section 11 is brought into tion.

line with the section 1 at which time the ends of the cams 12 will pass over the engaged step 3 and the section 11 will drop with said step seated within the recesses 16.

This dropping of the section 11 is permitted in view of the stud and slot connections upper steps of the middle section in the same manner that the middle section is interlocked with the two upper steps of the lower section.

When it is desired to collapse the ladder thesections are pulled upwardly relative to each other so as to lift therecessed portions of the side strips out of engagement with the steps 3 engaged thereby. Thereafter the sections can be folded one into the other as shown, for example, in Figure 2. If preferred, however, the sections can be given a triangular arrangement as illustrated in Figure 5, the intermediate section being utilized as a rear support for the front section 1 While the top section 19 is utilized as a cross connection or brace, the same being connected by any suitable means to one of the steps 3 of the section 1.

The slotted end of each side strip of the middle section can be reinforced by a strip 17.

What is claimed is:

An extensible ladder including a section comprising side strips, rungs connecting the side strips, and pivot devices extending from the side strips between two of the rungs, another section including side strips having slots extending longitudinally thereof adjacentone end into which said pivot devices extend, said side strips being each provided with spaced inclined faces on one edge for simultaneous wedging engagement with two of the rungs of the first named section when the slotted side strips are shifting 1ongitudinally in one direction, the slots being disposed between the inclined faces, and a stopshoulder at one end of each inclined face for engagement with the adjacent rung,

thereby to limit the wedging action of the inclined face during the relative movement of the sections.

Intestimony that I claim'the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

JOSEPH L. WALKER. 

